Shell catcher for repeating firearms

ABSTRACT

A spent shell catching device for repeating firearms having compact means with a sliding fore and aft action whereby the same may be placed in an inoperative position or in position to catch spent shells upon ejection from the receiver of the gun. Furthermore the invention comprehends the provision of the above shell cathcing means modified to the extent that the shell catcher can be used in shooting doubles in which the first shell is totally ejected and the second shell caught by the catcher mechanism which is automatically operated to catch the shell bolt action of the gun.

United States Patent 1 Kuslich 1 3,733,728 1 1 May 22,1973

SHELL CATCHER FOR REPEATING FIREARMS [76] Inventor: John S. Kuslich, 1064 Arzyle Street,

St. Paul, Minn. 55103 22 Filed: Aug. 12, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 171,235

[52] U.S. Cl. ..42/1 R [51] Int. Cl. ..F4lc 27/00 [58] Field of Search ..42/l R; 89/33 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,387 4/1963 Browning ..42/1 R 3,603,015 9/1971 Jensen ...42/l R 3,609,900 10/ 1971 Bemocco ..42/1 R Primary ExaminerSamuel Feinberg Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Francis C. Browne et a].

[57] ABSTRACT A spent shell catching device for repeating firearms having compact means with a sliding fore and aft action whereby the same may be placed in an inoperative position or in position to catch spent shells upon ejection from the receiver of the gun. Furthermore the invention comprehends the provision of the above shell cathcing means modified to the extent that the shell catcher can be used in shooting doubles in which the first shell is totally ejected and the second shell caught by the catcher mechanism which is automatically operated to catch the shell bolt action of the gun.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures EATENTEDMAYZZ I975 3,733, 728

SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR John 5. Kus/ich BY w ATTORNEY) SHELL CATCIIER FOR REPEATING FIREARMS This invention relates to improvements in general automatic firearms, in the provision of shell catching means which is compactly mounted on the gun parts in an out of the way position, and in such relationship that it may be operated to catch a shell or rendered inoperative without removal of any of its parts to permit shell ejection.

It is desirable in connection with automatic firearms to catch and reclaim fired shells for economical reasons. One reason is that most gun clubs now have a rule that all ejected shells belong to the club.

There are shell catchers on the market which are not convenient to use because of their bulk, interference with the shooters vision, and otherwise distracting because of their distance from the far side of the firearm.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a shell catcher that can remain permanently upon the gun and rendered operative or inoperative with respect to shell catching without removal of any part. In this connection the basic feature of the shell catcher is the fact that it is mounted upon the gun receiver by fore and aft sliding action which enables retraction of the catching means to a rear inoperative position or forward extension at the loading port for catching spent shells.

Another and very desirable feature of the invention is the provision of a shell catcher for attachment to a gun receiver which enables the shooting of doubles without distraction; the gun being loaded with two shells. Means is provided to enable ejection of a spent shell when the gun is fired for the first time; means being provided to automatically operate the shell catching means when the bolt is returned to firing position for the second shot, and thus placing the catching member in position to hold and reclaim the second spent shell.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an easily operated compact shell catching system and mechanism which is simple in operation and is located in an out of the way position upon the receiver so that it will not distract or interfere with the operator's vision.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one form of improved shell catcher in retracted position and with the bolt closed upon the gun receiver.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 1 but showing the catching means in shell catching position with the gun bolt closed.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing the shell catcher holding the shell at the start of ejection from the gun loading port.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the catcher parts taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a modified form of invention intended for use when shooting doubles; the view showing the catcher in retracted inoperative position in order that the bolt can be retracted for complete ejection of the first shell.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the catcher parts of FIG. 5

but with the bolt retracted and in position to trigger a mechanism which will place the shell catching means in place through bolt action when the bolt is closed for the purpose of catching the second shell at the time of normal ejection.

FIG. 7 is a view of the parts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, but with the catcher in position for catching the second shell.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view through the shell catching mechanism, taken on the line 88 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the form of invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, the gun A is of the semi-automatic repeating type with conventional slide bolt mechanism and ejecting means (not shown) for the shell. In this form of invention the shell catching means B is compactly associated with the gun A and in position to be manually moved without displacement of any parts to an operative or inoperative shell catching position.

In the form of invention as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 inclusive the gun A is of the usual semi-automatic repeating type as shown for the gun A, but the improved shell catching means C is intended to be used either for shell catching when shooting doubles. It is provided with means to permit ejection of the first shell and to catch the second spent shell in a manner to be subsequently described.

Referring to the form of invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, the gun A is provided with the conventional receiver 10 with a sliding bolt 11 and a handle 12 for operating it. The receiver has the usual loading port 13 and shell ejecting means (not shown) which is of conventional nature.

Referring to the form of invention B a frame or casing 20 is provided which is shallow in transverse depth. It includes a base plate 21, shown best in FIG. 4 having a retaining lip 22 which preferably enters the port 13 and rests against the receiver side. The base plate 21 is of rigid material, and preferably metal. It is flat and retained in position along the gun receiver 10 by twofaced adhesive tape 24 or other means affixing the shell catcher either permanently or detachablyto the receiver. The casing 20 is provided with a horizontally elongated passageway 26 therealong through which the shell catching wire 45 extends for movement.

The passageway 26 receives therein a catching wire guide pin 35 which has an inner head 37 and an outerhead 36, both wider than the slot 31. The catching arm or wire 45 is attached to the pin 35 within the slot 26 and it is actuated by a spring 40 which engages the bottom of the casing normally urging the shell catching wire 41 upwardly against the top wall of the casing 20. The catching member 45 may be of wire or other material and its fore end 50 is convexed to permit free ejection of the shell into the catching curve 51 of the member 45, as shown in FIG. 3.

It is quite evident that the simplicity of the shell catching assembly B is such that it is in an out of the way position with respect to the vision of the gunner when sighting. The button head 36 may be operated to place the shell catching member 45 in retracted position or in extended shell catching position, as shown in been used on the drawings where applicable. The pin 35 of the form of invention B has been changed in the form of invention C to 36 because it pivotally supports a latch supporting plate or member 80 on the outer side of the casing 20. The casing is furthermore provided with a shallow outstanding retaining flange 82 which acts as a guide for holding the plate 80 in latch operating position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and it is of sufficient length to permit the pin 36 to move the plate 80 to a position which will enable the fore end of the latch holding plate 80 to be swung upwardly in an out of the way position with respect to the bolt mechanism as shown in FIG. 7.

The plate 80 is provided with a pivot pin 85 upon which a latch 86 is pivoted, spring actuated at 87 to normally be urged downwardly so that the lower projecting end 89 may be moved into position to be caught as will be subsequently described by the handle 12 of the bolt mechanism.

In operation of the form of invention C the catching wire 45 is shown retracted in FIG." 5. The bolt handle 12 will move when retracted against the projecting portion 89 of the latch and swing the latch against the resistance of spring 87. Thereby the latch enables the bolt handle 12 to pass to the position shown in FIG. 6.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when it is desirable to shoot doubles the first shot is made with the catcher C in the position shown in FIG. 5. The first shell will be ejected. Retraction of the bolt fingerpiece 12 has pivoted the latch 86 and passes the latch 86 to the position shown in FIG. 6. Upon closing the bolt for firing the second shot, the bolt fingerpiece 12 will move the catcher mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 7. This swings the plate 80 upwardly and places the wire 45 in position to catch and reclaim the second shell upon bolt retraction.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a shell catcher adapted for attachment to a repeating firearm which has a receiver with a movable bolt and an opening in the side thereof for ejection of empty shells, such shell catcher including a supporting frame, a shell catching member mounted for slidable fore and aft action to within said frame and having means for selectively manually retracting the shell catching member to an inoperative position within the frame and to an operative shell catching position, and latch means movably mounted on the supporting frame of such nature as to permit the bolt of the firearm to move the latch means without moving the shell catching member, said bolt having means thereon which when extended into firing position will engage the latch means and push the shell catching member into a shell catching position.

2. In combination with a repeating firearm having a receiver provided with an opening in one side thereof for ejection of empty shells and a shell controlling bolt, a shell catcher including an elongated frame mounted upon the side of the firearm, an elongated spring biased shell catching member mounted for longitudinal slidable movement to within said frame in a fore and aft direction for selective retraction into an inoperative position within the frame and into an operative position for shell catching, said shell catching member including a catching curve having a concave-convex portion positioned above the lowermost portion of the opening of the receiver so that the same may move upwardly away from the lowermost portion of the opening of the receiver and provide a spring force catching a shell between the concavo-convex portion thereof and the lower portion of the opening of the receiver, and means for manually selectively actuating said shell catching member into its operative and inoperative positions.

3. A shell catcher for connection to a repeating firearm which has a receiver with a shell opening in the side thereof for reception and rejection of shells and a reciprocal bolt for opening and closing said opening, a frame member for mounting upon a firearm receiver, a. shell catching member mounted for fore and aft movement upon said frame with respect to the receiver opening, the bolt having a lateral extension thereon, latch means movably mounted on the frame with respect to said shell catching member and having means normally biasing it to enable the lateral extension of the bolt to move the latch means to an inoperative position upon opening of the bolt whereby the extension moves past the latch means, said latch means having a portion extending into the path of said extension of the bolt whereby when the bolt is moved to close the opening in the receiver the shell catching member will be moved to a shell catching position.

4. The shell catcher of claim 3 in which the latch means consists of a plate pivoted upon the frame member normally spring biased to engage a flange of the frame during the retracted action of the plate, the flange terminating short of the extension movement of the plate to enable the plate to swing up at its fore end to position the shell catcher in receiving position, said plate forward of the pivot of the plate upon the frame having a pivot for the latch means and means to limit the biasing means of the latch means in a forward direction.

5. In combination with a repeating firearm having a receiver with an opening in the side thereof, a shell receiving and ejecting bolt, a shell catcher mounted on the receiver, said shell catcher including a shell catching member and having means to selectively retract the same to an inoperative position and extend the same into shell catching position with respect to said opening, and means movable with the shell catching member enabling the shell catching member when in retracted position to remain in such position when the bolt is opened for shell ejecting purposes, said bolt and shell catching member having means connected therewith to project the shell catching member into shell catching position upon further forward mqovement of the bolt.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 in which the combination is adapted for shooting doubles in which the first spent shell can be ejected and the second spent shell will be caught by the shell catching member.

# 1G i I. 

1. As an article of manufacture, a shell catcher adapted for attachment to a repeating firearm which has a receiver with a movable bolt and an opening in the side thereof for ejection of empty shells, such shell catcher including a supporting frame, a shell catching member mounted for slidable fore and aft action to within said frame and having means for selectively manually retracting the shell catching member to an inoperative position within the frame and to an operative shell catching position, and latch means movably mounted on the supporting frame of such nature as to permit the bolt of the firearm to move the latch means without moving the shell catching member, said bolt having means thereon which when extended into firing position will engage the latch means and push the shell catching member into a shell catching position.
 2. In combination with a repeating firearm having a receiver provided with an opening in one side thereof for ejection of empty shells and a shell controlling bolt, a shell catcher including an elongated frame mounted upon the side of the firearm, an elongated spring biased shell catching member mounted for longitudinal slidable movement to within said frame in a fore and aft direction for selective retraction into an inoperative position within the frame and into an operative position for shell catching, said shell catching member including a catching curve having a concavo-convex portion positioned above the lowermost portion of the opening of the receiver so that the same may move upwardly away from the lowermost portion of the opening of the receiver and provide a spring force catching a shell between the concavo-convex portion thereof and the lower portion of the opening of the receiver, and means for manually selectively actuating said shell catching member into its operative and inoperative positions.
 3. A shell catcher for connection to a repeating firearm which has a receiver with a shell opening in the side thereof for reception and rejection of shells and a reciprocal bolt for opening and closing said opening, a frame member for mounting upon a firearm receiver, a shell catching member mounted for fore and aft movement upon said frame with respect to the receiver opening, the bolt having a lateral extension thereon, latCh means movably mounted on the frame with respect to said shell catching member and having means normally biasing it to enable the lateral extension of the bolt to move the latch means to an inoperative position upon opening of the bolt whereby the extension moves past the latch means, said latch means having a portion extending into the path of said extension of the bolt whereby when the bolt is moved to close the opening in the receiver the shell catching member will be moved to a shell catching position.
 4. The shell catcher of claim 3 in which the latch means consists of a plate pivoted upon the frame member normally spring biased to engage a flange of the frame during the retracted action of the plate, the flange terminating short of the extension movement of the plate to enable the plate to swing up at its fore end to position the shell catcher in receiving position, said plate forward of the pivot of the plate upon the frame having a pivot for the latch means and means to limit the biasing means of the latch means in a forward direction.
 5. In combination with a repeating firearm having a receiver with an opening in the side thereof, a shell receiving and ejecting bolt, a shell catcher mounted on the receiver, said shell catcher including a shell catching member and having means to selectively retract the same to an inoperative position and extend the same into shell catching position with respect to said opening, and means movable with the shell catching member enabling the shell catching member when in retracted position to remain in such position when the bolt is opened for shell ejecting purposes, said bolt and shell catching member having means connected therewith to project the shell catching member into shell catching position upon further forward mqovement of the bolt.
 6. The combination defined in claim 5 in which the combination is adapted for shooting doubles in which the first spent shell can be ejected and the second spent shell will be caught by the shell catching member. 